The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-28
AROUSING THE APATHETIC
Public Feeling Toward the Ghoulish Gang
That Snatches Dead Mems Shoes.
The Breach in the Democratic Ranks Caused
by Cows Disrespect for the Late City
Clerks Memory Continues to Widen.

OTs
the worst elements of the cisy's population, left
the death-bed of Michael +. Shields. Democratic
candidate for city clerk. to call the executive
committee Of his party together to nominate
man to fill the vacancy on the ticket. The
death OF the candidate and the selection of his
successor occurred within two hours. This in
suit to the memory Of a man who was faithful
TO his party's interests is carrying with it the
most damaging effects to the hopes OF the gang.
People who were apathetic to the cause of
the canvass have been aroused, and come TO the
aid of Mr.. Shislds's friends in resenting the re-
Election cast upon him by the brutal haste OF
Coy in nominating Mike ODonnell They say
that Coy had no regard for Shields. except for
the strength he brought to the ticket, and that
the nomination OF ODonnel expresses his true
feeling in that as Shields is dead and he can be
no longer of use to the party, It is not
worth while to bother about what
might have been. It is the living. they say.
that Coy cares for and then only for men who
will do his bidding submissively and slavishly
as ODonnell will. Tie gang is doing its best to
heal the breach which. Democrat who has
acted with Coy and Sullivan said yesterday is
becoming wider and WIDER" He thinks a few
may be persuaded to withdraw their opposition
to ODonnell, and consent to be whipped oack,
but only few, and that from class who, In
measure, subsst on favors from the gang 1T
is no use to conceal it" he continued, "the in
dignation is widespread. Why. an freshman
came to me this morning with torrent of abuse,
rs il was responsible for ODonDelIs nomlna-
ton. tried to assure him that knew nothing
of what had been done. Coy SAYS he had the
nomination made when he, did to
prevent any wrangling in the party,
but that does not meet the Shields's
friends look at 1t 10 other light than as an insult
TO his memory, an indecent act before his corpse
was prepared for the grave. You know me and
haf hRv OnA FIR he
j did all i could to defeat Denny, even resorting
10 methods that were not strictly legitimate.
but told him this morning that while had
tried to do him mp he need have no further fears
of me working against him. / will not say that
/ will not vote for him, but will do nothing to
injure him. It is a close question with me what
to do as to voting, but You know my relations to
the party. 1t is not necessary to mention my
name in what you write concerning this CONVEX
sation. but am sincere In what say, my posi-
ton IN only that taken by many hundred
Democrats since the death Of Mr.. Shields"
Coy is spreading it around. to save Sullivan
from the grominy attending the nomination of
O'Donneli, that Sullivan. being in New York,
know nothing of the death of Mr.. Shields. 1t
Is a matter of fact. though, that every one con-
. versant with his condition doubted Mr.. Shields
living until the day of the election. 1t is also
certainty that Coy and Sullivan prepared for
the emergency in settling on O'Donnell as the
candidate in the event OF Mr.. Shieldss death
O'Donnell, as superintendent of the police, had
been used before to help the gang. He was
given the deputy clerkship in the Criminal
Court solely to favor the saloon element all he
could. When Gov made bis continuous
and bitter fight against Lang because
he enforced the liquor laws. ODonnell
was being groomed for the succession. The
Democratic police commissioners pretended that
they had found a man who was more fearless
than Lang and who would not stop at ANYTHING
to suppress the illegal traffic in liquors. ODon-
nell was superintendent of police a few days
short of eight months. from March "a, 1885, to
Nov Is, that year. During the eight months
preceding. under Lang. there were thirty-two
arrests for violations of the liquor law During
O'Donnells term only twelve arrests were
made and several of shese were persons known
to have Republican proclivities One arrest
that OF Charles Lutz, was because he had a
bottle of whisky with which he treating
friends on election day. He was cigar maker,
not a saloon-keeper. Five of the arrests oc-
Cured within a few DAYS after ODonnell took
charge Of the Office. During all these
eight months he stoutly maintained that
there c. were very ,,o lie" no, a,.arg
man about town knew this to be a lie. although
the commissioners believed him until the viola
tons became so notorious that they conld no
longer be concealed from even the casual OBJ
server. ODonnell was removed and Travis
succeeded him acting superintendent. In the
month and half of Travis's control of the force.
fourteen arrests occurred, seven of which were
made in one day Then came Colbert's uperin-
tendency for two months, under which only
eight arrests for violations of the Sunday and IL
O'Clock law made. Since his control of the
force ceased and Travis resumed the superin-
tendency, there have been in eight months
ninety-two arrests of this class of offenders.
This record shows that Coy is supporting ODon-
nell for services rendered.
Notwithstanding the very disagreeable wealth
or there a very large gathering of the Re-
pubicaus Of the Sixteenth ward at No. So South
Tennessee street. for the purpose of nominating
a candidate for the Council There was no con-
test for the place. and it was given to Eugene
Saulcy by reclamation. Although the ward is
Democratic il has several times been carried by
the Republicans and there are hopes for success
this year Last year Mr.. Saulcy, the Re-
publican candidate for recorder, carried the
ward by good majority, and will work hard to
do the same this year.
The headquarters of the Republican city COM
nittee from now until after the election, will
be at No. So North Pennsylvania street. where
Republicans having suggestions to offer, de-
string information regarding the coming munich
nal election, will be welcome at all hours during
the day.
The Coy gang is having as much trouble with
some of their candidates for the Council as with
the O'Donnell nomination. The fierce factional
fight in the Twenty fifth ward has spread to the
twenty tOurLDy Wuere Inc DomOcEaLS are aoou
ready for a revolt. In the Fifteenth the dissatis
faction that existed months ago over the nomi
nation of Burns has continued with such inten
sitv that his defeat is threatened although he
had a large majority in his first election 1t II
reported that on the South Side. where the work
ingmen particularly supply the voting strength,
the bitterest denunciations Of Coy and his gane
can be heard
The gang has adopted ku-klux meth DDS in 6
mild form, to intlmidate c1lored Republicans
1t is simple. but as brutal as the nomination Of
O'Donnell before the corpse of the late Demo.
cratic candidate prepared for the grave
The gang heelers learn of poor colored men
of necessitous circumstances. who rent from
friends of the gang. These landlords are in
fiuenced to give their tenants notice to leave.
BY this means 1t is expected to drive them ont
Of the precincts where they live they will
lose their votes
The Republicans have secured No. &c Penn
uv1vania street Martindale Block for head